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Category: College

Griffon men struggle on day one at Washburn as they sit 11th

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The Missouri Western men’s golf team sits in 11th place after a round one 314 in the Washburn Invitational at the Topeka Country Club in Topeka, Kan. Eight schools are 10 strokes or less behind leader Fort Hays State who fired 299 in the opening round. Lindenwood and Missouri Southern are one stroke back with 300’s.

Scott Sheldon and Kenny Stone fired low rounds for the Griffons with 76 tying them for 22nd. Sheldon is playing as an individual in the event. Logan Gilliland and Tyler Gast fired under 80 with 77 and 78 respectively while Derek Hawkins and James O’Brien finished with 83’s.

The leader of the event is Bryan Steele of Southwest Baptist with a  -2 under par 69. He is one stroke better than Pittsburg State’s Justin Valdivia’s 70.

The event will conclude tomorrow with an 18-hole round.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Norm Roberts returns to the Kansas coaching staff

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Norm Roberts has rejoined the Kansas men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach, KU head coach Bill Self announced Monday.

Roberts, who replaces Danny Manning who was named head coach at Tulsa in late March, comes to Kansas after serving the 2011-12 season as an assistant coach at the University of Florida, where the Gators were 26-11 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Roberts is no stranger to Kansas and Self. He spent nine seasons on Self’s staffs at KU in 2003-04 as associate head coach, three years at Illinois (2000-03), including serving as associate head coach in 2002-03; three seasons at Tulsa (1997-2000); and two years at Oral Roberts (1995-97). Additionally, his son, Niko, is a sophomore guard on the KU team.

“I’m excited to see Norm come back,” Self said. “He’s always been a Kansas guy having worked Kansas basketball camps in the 1980’s for Coach (Larry) Brown. He and his family loved it here. As good as he was when he left, now he’s got six years of head coaching experience under his belt in addition to all the recruiting experience. I think he’s going to be a huge asset to our program. It also gives him an opportunity to have his entire family together as Niko will continue to be a walk-on on our basketball team.”

“I’m extremely excited having the chance to go back to such a great program as Kansas,” Roberts said. “I thought when I was there, I wasn’t there long enough to really enjoy the Jayhawk nation and everything. Having a chance to go back will be great and the opportunity to work with Joe (Dooley) and Kurtis (Townsend) and the rest of the staff will be great as well.”

“It’s going to be even more special because my son is there,” Roberts said. “He’s made his own way. He’s part of the program. Something important to me is that Niko was okay with me coming back. Obviously my wife (Pascale) is close with Cindy (Self) and our families are very close. This is a great opportunity for me and my family.”

“This wasn’t an easy decision,” Roberts added. “(Florida head coach) Billy Donovan has been really, really good to me. I would consider him one of the top five coaches in America and I learned a tremendous amount being here with Billy and his staff. Leaving here I feel I’m a better coach and a better person to have worked at Florida.”

“Norm Roberts did a great job on our staff the past year here at Florida,” Donovan said. “I have a lot of respect for the Kansas program and Bill Self, and I know this is a great opportunity for Norm and his family to all be together.”

Prior to Florida, Roberts spent six seasons as the head coach at St. John’s in New York, where in 2004 the Queens, N.Y., native took over the Red Storm.

In his first season, the Red Storm showed that despite coming off several losing seasons they could compete at a high level with a pair of top-25 victories over No. 17 North Carolina State and No. 21 Pittsburgh while claiming the championship at the 2004 Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden. St. John’s also defeated long-time rival Georgetown that year.

In Roberts’ second season in 2005-06, St. John’s improved its overall and conference record and claimed the Holiday Festival championship for a second consecutive year. The team also scored its first top-10 win under Roberts, defeating No. 9 Pittsburgh, 55-50, on Jan. 21 just four days after another top-25 win against No. 17/15 Louisville, 68-56.

In 2008-09, St. John’s scored its biggest victory of Roberts’ tenure, knocking off No. 7 Notre Dame, and added a pair of wins over Georgetown, including a first-round matchup in the Big East Tournament. In his final season with the program, Roberts led St. John’s past UConn in the Big East Tournament and earned a postseason berth in the NIT.

A 1987 graduate of Queens College with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, Roberts is the school’s third all-time leading scorer with 1,719 points. He also is the career leader in steals (253) and is second in assists (460), and had his number (15) retired by his alma mater in 1993.

Roberts’ first job out of college was under legendary high school coach Jack Curran at Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, where he spent three years as the head freshman coach and an assistant on the varsity squad. While at Archbishop Molloy, he had the opportunity to coach many noted New York players, including all-time New Jersey Nets assist leader Kenny Anderson.

— KU Sports Information —

KU’s Robinson declares for NBA Draft

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Kansas junior forward Thomas Robinson declared for the NBA Draft at a press conference in Allen Fieldhouse Monday morning.

After playing three seasons at Kansas, Robinson will give up his final year of collegiate eligibility and finish his career as the 55th Jayhawk to score 1,000 points in a career. Robinson’s name will forever decorate the career and single-season record list for points and rebounds. The 6-10 Washington, D.C., native finished his Kansas career with 1,026 points, 763 rebounds, 100 assists, 74 blocks and 32 double-doubles. His 763 career rebounds rank 14th all-time, while his 32 double-doubles rank seventh. After playing behind Cole Aldrich and Marcus and Markieff Morris his first two seasons, Robinson made the most of his junior season. He ranks in the top 12 in four categories on the single-season list: 692 points (eighth), 463 rebounds (second), 27 double-doubles (first) and 261 field goals made (11th). Robinson’s 27 double-doubles led the nation in 2011-12, while his 11.9 rebounds per game ranked second nationally.

His 27 double-doubles this season moved him ahead of Drew Gooden (25 in 2002) for first place on the single-season list. Earlier this season, Robinson posted one of the most impressive games by a Jayhawk in a long time as he joined elite company when he scored 30 points and pulled down 21 rebounds against North Dakota (12/31). He became the first Jayhawk to score at least 30 points and record 20 rebounds since Wayne Hightower scored 36 points and grabbed 21 rebounds against Missouri on Feb. 13, 1961. In KU history there have been at least nine other 30-20 games and two games that could not be confirmed – seven of those games were by Wilt Chamberlain, one by Hightower and one by Clyde Lovellette. Robinson is the sixth player in Big 12 history to accomplish the feat joining former conference player(s) of the year Kevin Durant (Texas), Michael Beasley (Kansas State) and Blake Griffin (Oklahoma) in addition to Oklahoma State’s Mario Boggan.

Robinson was a unanimous Associated Press First Team All-American becoming the first since Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin in 2009. He was the lone unanimous selection in 2011-12. Robinson is Kansas’ first AP First Team All-American since Wayne Simien in 2005.

He was part of three Big 12 regular-season championships, two Big 12 Championship titles, two Elite Eights and one Final Four at Kansas. Robinson lost just one time in Allen Fieldhouse, posting a three-year record of 50-1. His overall three-year Kansas record of 100-13 are the most wins in a three-year period in Kansas’ rich men’s basketball history.

During his sophomore season Robinson was the Jayhawks’ sixth-man. He averaged 14.6 minutes in 33 games with two starts and was the Jayhawks’ most productive player off the bench, averaging 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He notched four double-doubles on the season and his 60.1 shooting percentage ranked second highest on the team. Robinson missed the Jayhawks’ win at Colorado (1/25) to attend the funeral of his mother, Lisa. In the four games following his mother’s death, he averaged 12.8 points on 17-of-25 shooting and 7.8 rebounds per game. He was selected as one of 10 finalists for the V Foundation Comeback Award.

In his freshman campaign he played in 33 games with one start, while averaging 7.2 minutes, 2.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. He appeared in 14 conference contests and four of five postseason games, while earning his first career start at Nebraska (1/13). Robinson’s first career double-double came with a career-high 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and 10 rebounds against Alcorn State (12/2).

Robinson will leave Lawrence after guiding the 2011-12 team to an appearance in the National Championship game and an overall record of 32-7.

— KU Sports Information —

Missouri Western splits four-game series at Northwest

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Missouri Western baseball concluded its first road trip in nearly a month Saturday, with a four-game series split at rival Northwest Missouri State.

The Griffons won game one 7-5, but were run-ruled 11-1 (eight innings) in game two to finish the weekend 2-2 against the Bearcats.

DH Nate Ramler led Western Saturday, going 4-8 with 3 RBI’s in the doubleheader.

The Griffons now stand 21-11 overall and 14-8 in MIAA conference play.  Northwest is now 12-21 and 10-4 in the conference.

GAME 1

The Griffons fell behind early, but a four-run fifth inning proved to be the difference in game one.

Western catcher Tony Loeffler led off the top of the fifth with a solo home run–the first of his two-year career as a Griffon– to make it a 3-2 game. Grant Fink later tied the game with a two-out RBI single, and Nate Ramler followed with a two-run double to right center, which gave Western its first lead of the game at 5-3.

Andrew Pieper’s RBI base hit in the sixth inning gave Western a 6-3 lead.  Northwest answered in the bottom of the sixth when Sean Garber hit a two-run home run off of Griffon starter Nik Jurado to cut the Griffon lead to one.  Pitcher Jake Jones relieved Jurado and got Western out of a two-on, one out jam, by striking out two batters.

Jurado picked up the win for Western, improving his record to 5-0 this season.  Jones picked up a five-out save, his fifth of the season.

The Griffons had 12 hits in the victory, with Ramler and Fink adding two hits a piece.

GAME 2

The Griffon bats went quiet in game two in an 11-1 run-rule loss in eight innings.

Northwest pitchers Sean Brady, Carson Smith and Pat Brady combined to four-hit the Griffons.  The Bearcats, meanwhile, pounded out 14 hits, including catcher Landinn Eckhardt’s 3-run home run in the 8th inning to complete the win and force the series split.

Oliver Kadey took the loss for Western, giving up 2 runs and last just 1/3 of an inning.

Western’s road swing continues Tuesday with a doubleheader at Emporia State, and continues Friday with a four-game series at Pittsburg State.

— MWSU Sports Information —

No. 17 Griffons sweep Southern to extend win streak to eight

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The 17th ranked Missouri Western softball team escaped the rain and Joplin with a doubleheader sweep over the Missouri Southern Lions. The Griffons pounded out 11 hits in game one winning 11-0 in five innings before grinding out a 1-0 victory in game two for the sweep. Western improves to 33-6 overall and 16-2 in MIAA action.

Game 1: MWSU 11, MSSU 0 (5 Innings)
After two rain delays the Griffons were able to come away with an 11-0 run rule victory in game one of the doubleheader. Western pounded out 11 hits with five being for extra bases which included a two run home run by Maegan Roemmich giving Western the 7-0 lead after three innings of play. The homer was her third of the season.

Jackie Bishop picked up her 18th victory of the season going all five innings striking out eight Lion batters while giving up just two hits.

The Griffons scored two runs in the first and third inning, three runs in the second and fifth inning and one in the fourth in the victory. Western had four doubles one each by Kendall Sorenson, Blair Stalder, Leah Steele and Sarah Elliott. Stalder and Elliott both had three hits in the game while Roemmich and Steele each had two. Elliott had three RBI while Roemmich and Steele both had two.

The Lions got hits from Breanna Volkmann and Kiley Siebenaler while Hannah Cooke falls to 3-10 going just 1.2 inings. She gave up four hits and five earned runs. Kayce Moore went 3.1 innings giving up eight hits and six earned runs for the Lions.

Game 2: MWSU 1, MSSU 0
The Griffons put together a two out rally in the top of the seventh inning pushing across the game winning run. With two outs Kat Steponovich drew a walk and then Sarah Elliott got hit by a pitch putting runners on first and second. Bre Fleschner reached on a fielders choice as the second baseman muffed a throw by the shortstop loading the bases. Kendall Sorenson stepped to the plate and battled off numerous pitches before drawing a walk pushing in Steponvich.

Annalee Rubio made things interesting in the seventh giving up a double with two outs before giving up a solid line drive out to left fielder Fleschner. She settled down striking out pinch hitter Chloe Brown for the last out picking up her 12th victory of the season. Rubio struckout seven in the outing.

Western had four hits in the game with Fleschner, Stalder, Lorbert and Steponvich all getting hits.

Hayley Pypes falls to 8-6 on the season giving up just four hits with four strikeouts. The Lions fall to 13-28 overall and 4-8 in MIAA action.

The Griffons return to action on Tuesday, April 10 when they step out of MIAA play taking on Drury University in a doubleheader. Game times are set for 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm from the MWSU Softball Field in St. Joseph, Mo.  Both games will air live on 680 KFEQ.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Four Bearcats earn or improve NCAA provisional marks

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Four Bearcats earned or improved NCAA provisional track & field marks highlighted by John Petroff as the first male to earn a provisional mark Saturday at the 2012 Jock’s Nitch Northwest Open.

Petroff earned a provisional mark in the discus throw with a mark of 163-09. Petroff captured the title holding off a pair of Drake throwers and conference rival Truman State.

On the women’s side two Bearcats improved on their NCAA provisional marks while Brittany Poole joined Lekiesha McKnight and Kate Walter on the list. Poole ran to a time of 10:56.83 in the 3000-meter steeplechase to move onto the list.

Walter improved her provisional mark in the javelin with a throw of 137-04. Her throw of 178-10 also improved her mark in the hammer throw as the junior claimed titles in each event.

McKnight won the shot put with a throw of 46-04.75. The mark for McKnight also improved her NCAA provisional mark earned earlier this spring at the ESU Spring Twilight.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Griffons split doubleheader at Northwest Missouri State

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Maryville was “Splitsville” for Missouri Western baseball Friday.  The Griffons split a doubleheader with rival Northwest, winning game one 2-1 and falling 9-1 in game two.

The Griffons, (20-10, 13-7 MIAA) and Bearcats (10-21, 9-13 MIAA) conclude the series with two more games Saturday in Maryville.  First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. and you can listen live to game one on ESPN 1550 and at www.espnstjoseph.com.

Game 1

Western 2, Northwest 1

Brandon Simmons scattered seven hits and picked up his seventh win of the season in another complete game gem, as the Griffons defeated the Bearcats 2-1.

The Griffons got on the board right away in the top of the first, with a Spencer Shockley RBI groundout.  Northwest answered with a run in the bottom-half of the inning, scoring after an error by 3rd baseman Grant Fink.

Western answered immediately in the top of the 2nd, with what proved to be the winning run, when Jimmy Smelcer scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Sean Egge.

Smelcer went 2-3 in the game.  Simmons pitched his way out of multiple jams during the game including the 3rd inning, when Northwest had runners on 1st and 3rd with one out.  Simmons then struck out Northwest DH Eric McGlauflin, and picked off Cameron Bedard at 1st base to get out of the inning.

Simmons struck out six in route to the complete game victory.  His record now stands at 7-2.

Game 2

Northwest 9, Western 1

Two big Bearcat innings sunk the Griffons in game two Friday.  Northwest used a four-run second inning and a five-run seventh inning to avoid the doubleheader sweep and pull a 9-1 win.

Ethan Ward (4-2) took the loss for Western.  Ward lasted just two innings, giving up 4 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks.

Northwest attacked relief pitcher Logan Hollingsworth in the 7th.  Hollingsworth was credited with the remaining five Bearcat runs in the inning.

Western scored its lone run in the second inning on an Andrew Pieper infield hit that scored Spencer Shockley.  Pieper was 3-3 in the game.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Bishop strikes out 22 in Western’s sweep of Pitt State

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Missouri Western sophomore Jackie Bishop struckout 22 Pittsburg State batters leading the Griffons to two victories on Friday afternoon in Pittsburg, Kan. Western won game one 5-0 behind 16 Bishop strikeouts before winning game two 3-2 in eight innings. Western improves to 31-6 overall and 14-2 in MIAA play.

Game 1: MWSU 5, PSU 0
Jackie Bishop  struckout a career best 16 Pittsburg State Gorillas including seven of the last nine outs giving Western the 5-0 win. Bishop improves to 16-2 pitching her 17th complete game and sixth shutout (second consecutive) of the year.

The Griffons got on the board in the third when Sarah Elliott led off the inning with a triple down the right field line and scored on Bre Fleschner’s second single of the game. The Griffons scored two more in the sixth when Taylor Anding double in pinch runner Erin Widrig and Maegan Roemmich scored on a sacrafice fly by Leah Steele.

Western put the game out of reach in the seventh scoring two more runs. Elliott scored an unearned run on a groundout by Blair Stalder and Fleschner scored on a sacrafice fly by Keri Lorbert.

Western pounded out 11 hits with Fleschner going 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Roemmich and Anding both had two hits for Western.

The Gorillas had just three hits in the contest. Hilary Erbert picked up the loss going six innings giving up nine hits and three earned runs. She falls to 10-9 with the loss.

Game 2: MWSU 3, PSU 2 (8 innings)
Things did not look good for the Griffons in game two as they went into the top of the seventh inning down 2-0. The Griffons rallied in the seventh as Leah Steele led off the innning with a single and later scored on a double by Kat Steponovich cutting the score to 2-1. Steponovich scored the tying run when Kendall Sorenson singled with two outs in the inning pushing the game to extra innings.

Bishop came in the game replacing Emily Moe and continued where she left off striking out the side in the seventh. In the eighth Michelle Stevenson singled to shortstop leading off the inning and scored on a single by Leah Steele giving Western the 3-2 lead. Bishop once again struckout the side in the eighth earning the victory. She improves to 17-2 with the victory.

Western got seven hits in the game with Steele getting two hits. Annalee Rubio went four innnings giving up seven hits and two earned runs while Emily Moe went two innings giving up two hits and walking just one.

The Gorillas had nine hits with Cheslyn Mitchell going 4-for-4 with two homeruns. Jessica Barnes went 7.2 innings giving up seven hits and three earned runs. She falls to 5-3 with the loss. The Gorillas fall to 22-19 overall and 8-2 in MIAA play.

The Griffons return to action tomorrow when they take on the Missouri Southern Lions in an MIAA doubleheader. Game time is set for 1:00 pm in Joplin, Mo.

— MWSU Sports Information —

NWMSU women’s tennis blanks Fort Hays State

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The Northwest Missouri State women’s tennis team picked up its second straight victory Friday en route to a 9-0 win over Fort Hays State at Frank Grube Courts.

The Bearcats have managed to get back to .500 at 8-8 on the year, but more importantly 3-0 in MIAA play. The win is also the second straight shutout of an MIAA opponent after last weekend’s 9-0 win over Truman State.

Continuing with solid play, the Bearcat doubles tandems swept all three matches taking a lead into singles play. Alexis Bartek and Camila Quesada won 8-0 at the No. 1 position while Erika Leston and Leslee Feldhaus had almost the same ease winning 8-1.

Singles play proved a tad tougher for Northwest, but in the end it was all green and white.

Camila Quesada took a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles while Alexis Bartek improved her season record in singles to 11-2 with a 4-6, 6-1, 10-5 win over Caitlyn Wark of Fort Hays State.

Northwest takes a break from MIAA play but its schedule gets no easier as the Bearcats host Central Oklahoma Saturday morning. Play is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. as a part of the Bearcat Spring Showcase including the Northwest Track and Field Open along with Bearcat baseball and softball starting at 1 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Northwest softball takes two from Southwest Baptist

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The Northwest Missouri State softball team got back to their winnings ways Friday afternoon as they swept a double header against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats winning 5-1 and 1-0.

With the wins, Northwest improved to 14-22 overall and 4-8 in conference play.

Game one saw Northwest jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the home half of the second thanks to doubles from Kayli Schurman and Anastaszia Roseberry.  Kristine Labertew would also single in the inning.

The Bearcats would up their lead in the third with the help of singles from Hailee Hendricks, Jordan Ereth and Molly Baker.  Schurman would also record her second hit on the game pushing the Northwest advantage to 3-0.

The Northwest bats stayed hot in their half of the fourth as the Bearcats would plate two more runs.  Kirsten Uthe would double in the inning while two Southwest Baptist errors would help extend the Northwest lead.

Southwest Baptist would get on the board in the sixth plating one run on two hits to cut the Northwest advantage to 5-1 but that would be as close as Southwest Baptist would get.

Jenna Creger looked solid in her return to the mound for the Bearcats after missing two weeks due to an abdominal injury.  Creger would pitch a complete game, scattering six hits while striking out seven.

Ereth and Schrman would lead the Bearcats offensively recording two hits each.

Game two would take extra innings but Kristine Labertew would belt a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to give Northwest the 1-0 win.

On the mound for Northwest, Abbie Vitosh would record the win pitching the entire game allowing just three hits while striking out eight.

Southwest Baptist’s Alexa Harvey recorded the loss scattering five hits while striking out two.

Anastaszia Roseberry would record two hits for Northwest in the win.

Up Next: The Bearcats continue MIAA play tomorrow as they host the Central Missouri Jennies in a double header as part of the Bearcat Spring Showcase.  First pitch from Bearcat Field is set for 1 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

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